Sectional – Lightweight – Portable

Inventory software is a great idea for several reasons. It can help avoid buying duplicates, keeps an accurate want list, forms the basis for insurance valuations, keeps track of where your items are at and their condition. The following is a survey of model train inventory software. If you know of others, please add it in the comments below.

Easy Model Railroad Inventory by RCL Software, Inc. – “is designed to inventory all of your model railroad rolling stock, locomotives and cars, the structures, electronic equipment, book collection . . . there are many ways to view, query, report, and graph . . . functions to operate your railroad using a variety of methods” General specs page. This EMRI is a complete, integrated solution. It tracks the locos, cars, MOW, including DCC info, structures, books, videos tools and does operations. Tip: turn on Maintance History for an item by checking the “Do Maintenance Check” box under the Routing/Operations tab. Update announcements and tutorials at MRH blog. Download USD: FREE – Donationware, OS: Windows. Current version 6.0 dated October 2012.

MiTrains by ShenSoft – “an inventory program specifically for model railroaders and rail fans. One that eased the burden of typing wherever possible” Includes database of N-scale Micro-Trains series. MiTrains is highly customizable and regularly updated. Integrates with Waybills program for switching and operations. Download – USD: $50. OS: Windows, Vista & Win7 with MS patch. Current version 6.5.0 dated March 2011.

RailFanExpress– “An easy way to keep an accurate record of your entire model railroad inventory. Catalog every item, with its cost and even include a photo. The numerous report options make Railfan Express excellent for insurance purposes.” USD: $20. OS: Win95 to WinXP. Not compatible with Win7. Current version 5.1 dated July 2009. Website down Aug 24, 2011. Version 5.0, description and reviews available at download.com.

RRTrains 2000 – “is a small program used to create a detailed inventory of your model railroad collection.” USD: FREE. OS: Win95 to Vista. Win7 unstated. Current version 2.7 dated July 2004.

SofTrack – “is the easiest to use and most complete solution for managing your collection of railroad equipment. It is designed for use on Macintosh or Windows computers with Filemaker Pro®.” USD: $60, OS: Mac OSX and WinXP, also requires Filemaker Pro database. Current version 2.0 has can be run without Filemaker Pro. As of October 2012, this software is no longer available. They are providing support and updates for the Apple Lion OS.

TrackMyTrains – “is a comprehensive database system designed especially for model railroading enthusiasts and collectors. Our subscribers keep their collection databases on our website with complete control over how it is organized and who can see their information.” USD: $30/year, Web Application.

TrainMinder – has optional paid modules adding Lionel and American Flyer images, data and prices. Price data is updated with eBay and other pricing. USD: $40-85, OS: Win98 to Win7. Current version and last update unknown.

TrainTracker – offers very extensive optional modules including, MTH, K-Line, Pre, Post and Modern Lionel and American Flyer data. USD: $29-130, OS: Win98 to WinXP. Vista and Win7 not stated as working. Latest version 5.5 last update not stated.

YardOffice -Tracks motive and rolling stock with custom notes, photos and DCC codes. Registered version allows printing of labels and reports. Free limited version or registerd USD: $27 w/ 1 year updates. OS: Win98 and up. Also works in iMac Windows partition. Latest version 3.08 dated August 2009.

In the comments that follow, I have made some suggestions and expressed some personal opinions. However, my likes and dislikes should not scare you off from looking at all the software. From looking over the software, I think all of the inventory programs are good. There are two programs that are no longer supported. One, the website is down, the other is supported, but no longer providing updates. I would choose a program that is currently supported and verify it has not been years since the last update.
Much of this is personal taste, interests and the look and feel of the software and your tastes are probably different than mine. Please use this post as a starting point, do the research and then pick out a couple of programs to try out, most offer a demo. Actually entering some of your collection into the programs will tell you if they do everything you need and want and if you like how the program operates and if it works well on your computer, operating system and printer.

This month’s feature is the Spokane International Railway (SIRy) submitted by Mike Pagano, the layout’s builder and a contributing author to N Scale Railroading magazine. The SIRy is an N-scale, lightweight, portable layout consisting of 4 sections with two separate track loops depicting the SIRy near Sandpoint in the Idaho panhandle. The portable layout is available for exhibitions and is headquartered out of Bellingham, Washington. Photos and some text by Mike Pagano.

Layout Name: Spokane International Railway

Famous for: Mike’s prototype signature scene on the SIRy is the Sand Creek Trestle, which was pictured on the cover of the July/Aug 2007 issue of N Scale Railroading. The Jan/Feb 2008 issue of N Scale Railroading describes how the project was conceived, including fitting the 650 foot scale trestle onto a portable layout. On the SIRy website, you can compare Mike’s efforts, as featured on the front cover of N Scale Railroading, with the prototype photo by Laurence Shawver in the 1950’s. It was important to Mike to have a historical railroad background for his project railroad and to also have a signature scene that would give the layout an identity. Read the rest of this entry »

TomThorpeCurvedBenchwork.com is again online, featuring exquisitely made modules for building a sectional layout. The site is worth looking at just for the artistry of the construction techniques. This is the place to go for bridge modules or sectional layout benchwork to fit a specific space. Pricing is appears commensurate with the high quality of materials and the complexity of the construction techniques.

Berret Hill Trains builds custom benchwork, layouts and modules to any standard. The website advertises custom benchwork can be as low as $12-15 per square foot. At the $15/sq. ft. rate, a 2×4 foot module would be about $120 plus shipping. Read the rest of this entry »

Layout design software or CAD is helpful in designing and building layouts, modular setups and shelf layouts. The products range from manufacturer specific 2D layout templates, to 3D CAD programs that can simulate operations and building design.

3rd Plan It – “Built on a strong, innovative set of design tools, the new 3D terrain and landscape features let you really visualize your layout like never before.” Download – USD: $125 or Printed Docs & CD – USD: $170. OS: WinXP

There are several kinds of simulators. Prototype, cab operations, model layout simulation and regional dispatch simulators. Your selection will depend on the scale of operations you are trying to simulate.

Free-mo is a similar to Fremo, but a different North American standard for single track modular railroading. Free-mo meets generally part of a larger exhibition with other scales and open to the public for viewing.

Model Railroad System – “is a software package that can help you run your railroad, from running trains to working your signals and switches. Software supports for a network of Bruce Chubb CMR/I USIC, SUSIC, and/or SMINI nodes and/or a network of Lenz’s XPressNet DCC nodes. Create switch lists for freight car forwarding and timetables.” Free download, open source. OS: WinXP and Linux.

PanelPro – is used for “creating schematic panels to handle the actual configuration for signals and Panel Editor providing exactly the appearance desired.” Open Source, OS: Java. Integrates with and created by JMRI above.

First off, Ulf stopped by and indicated all this information may now be found at his www.GoldenValleyRoute.com website. The following article has been updated with this new information.

“My first module” details the construction of a European Fremo standard straight module that uses Marklin “C” track. The scenery is made of foam and plaster coated gauze and includes a bridge over a dry wash. ulf999’s thread starts with photos of the module parts goes on to module construction, terraforming the foam an gauze and concludes with scenicing and trains running on the modules.

“Two 16 degree curves” shows the construction of a pair of Fremo curved modules from wood frame work to scenery and trees. All the threads have extensive written details and an abundance of high quality photographs.

In preparing to build a module for my HO module club, I have been searching for the “ultimate” in module construction. Construction techniques should be applicable to all standards, Fremo, Ntrak, NMRA, etc. and scales. The list below outlines what seem to be the basic criteria for the “ultimate” module construction:

Simple to Construct – basic skills, tools and obtainable materials

Lightweight – favoring foam and luan plywood

Strong & Rigid – rail grade flat and strength to move

Precise – easy to build plumb and square

Deep Contour Scenery – not “table top” flat

Durable – edges and scenery have some bump protection

From the information I have collected, the following module construction techniques appear to be the superior in some areas:

Switching and Sipping Society “Waffle” Modules – Probably the best example of module construction that is precise, lightweight, strong and rigid. S&SS modules do not appear to provide either “deep profile scenery” or the goal of being “simple to construct”.

Calgary Free-mo has developed a nice lightweight and sturdy module construction system that appears to meet all of the “ultimate” criteria, except possibly durability.

Railway Bob has developed especially easy to build modules. The one concern might be about the long-term sagging of the foam top between the supports.

The editor’s current favorite is the mentioned on the eisenbahnstudio weblog as the “Black Forest Fremo:87″ module in the Continental Modeller March 2009 issue. An exploded view indicates the construction would require a tablesaw. Generally, the Black Forest module seems to strike a good balance between all the “ultimate” criteria.

Fremo is a European standard for single track modular railroading. The meets are usually a private meeting for Fremo members and generally exclude the general public. Fremo members pay the exhibition hall costs to exhibit and run their modules.